Dell has to follow MS's licensing requirements.
Printable View
Dell has to follow MS's licensing requirements.
I would agree, if we were talking about using it on two computers _at once_. The licence is for one copy of Windows (whatever version it be), and trying to use that licence to use two copies simultaneously is wrong. (Unless you get a site licence - for instance, every one of our OS/2 computers uses the same key, because we just said "give us one CD and "X" licences - but even so, if you pay for 5 and you use 50, same issue.) But if you've paid to use Windows, why should it matter that you bought that as a bundle with the PC?Quote:
Originally posted by karahd
That's probably due to MS license scheme. The license for your copy of Windows is not user-based it's PC-based.
Using the same CD on different computers is a violation of the license. Now, one could argue that maybe one has another license that was purchased from MS, but MS would just ask: where's the CD for that license?
Scenario 1: Build a computer from parts, and buy a retail copy of Windows. Then later on, build a new computer, using some parts from the original, some new ones - and the same copy of Windows. All is well.
Scenario 2: Buy an off-the-shelf computer from Dell, IBM, Acer, or for that matter ANY manufacturer. It comes with a copy of Windows, and the price reflects this. (With Dell's system selection, you even get to see just how many dollars each option costs, fwiw.) Later on, you upgrade the computer by buying a new screen. Are you allowed to keep using the same copy of Windows? Of course you are, the screen isn't even internal. What if you add more RAM, uprate the video card, and stick in a new power supply. Yep, all's well. Some upgrades might force you to reactivate XP, but it's legitimate upgrades, you still have the same computer.
Scenario 3: Off-the-shelf computer. You haven't upgraded anything. Windows falls over spectacularly. You get the original CD and reinstall. You may have some trouble with an automated activation service, but MS can't stop you from continuing to use that copy of Windows. All is well.
Scenario 4: Off-the-shelf. You upgrade the hard drive. It's a combination of 2 and 3, so all's well.
Scenario 5: Off-the-shelf. You upgrade everything except the case (mainboard, CPU, all components, the works). The sticker is on the outside of the case, so the sticker is still on "this computer". Should be allowed to keep using it, right?
Scenario 6: Off-the-shelf. The case gets smashed, so you migrate all components to a new case. The hard disk still has Windows installed on it, so why should you go to the hassle of reinstalling? Just move the sticker.
Of course, you mustn't try to overlay 5 and 6 and use two at once. But why shouldn't you do one or the other? The real question here is: What is "the computer"? What's the sticker "belong" to?
Side point: There was one particular model of laptop that we worked on a little while back, where the Windows sticker was stuck onto a tiny cover, easily shifted from one computer to another. So in that model, we changed them around at the cost of one screw.... easy.
I think it is the motherboard more than anything that makes the difference. If you change motherboards, I think it can tell right off the bat.
Never mind whether it can tell or not, that's immaterial. There are two questions here:
1) Is it fair, is it legal, is it right by whatever means you wish to use, to "tie" a copy of Windows to a computer?
2) If so, then what defines the computer to which that copy is bound?
Generally, if the case and mobo are still together, it's the same computer. But we call a computer by the same name if we do a complete upgrade (for instance, our database server is called Stanley - if we buy/build a completely new computer to be our database server, we will call it Stanley). It's not the same computer though.
Can anyone tell me if you can transfer save files for PC games? Like on to a flash drive? I'm planning to reformat in the near future and don't want to lose my game data if I can help it.
This is usually not a problem, though the exact location of saves varies from game to game. If you're lucky, the game will be pretty obvious and have 'sav', 'save', etc in the filename or containing folder name. If you have a lot of trouble locating saves, you can always save a game and then immediately search around for recently modified files.Quote:
Originally posted by Rijiny
Can anyone tell me if you can transfer save files for PC games? Like on to a flash drive? I'm planning to reformat in the near future and don't want to lose my game data if I can help it.
Google or a game publisher/developer's forums might give more useful info for specific games.
Is there any problems with buying an OEM version of Windows XP? Would be nice to not have to pay 200 dollars for it >_<
Not really. The retail version of XP comes with tech support from Microsoft.
I don't know if you can actually buy an OEM XP now; but there wouldn't be much problem. But hey, if it's an OEM XP you want - I have plenty. Want one? It's yours for postage cost - so if all you want is the 25-character key, I can email/mudmail it to you. These are fully legit - removed from laptops.Quote:
Originally posted by Rijiny
Is there any problems with buying an OEM version of Windows XP? Would be nice to not have to pay 200 dollars for it >_<
I'm sure that's worth something, but I really don't know how much, to be honest.Quote:
Originally posted by Grantref
Not really. The retail version of XP comes with tech support from Microsoft.